Buddy Roemer on EducationFormer Governor (R-LA); frontrunner for AmericansElect presidential nomination |
A: Teachers must be tested, tenure must be modified, excellence must be rewarded in significant pay and work conditions improvement, principals must lead, and teacher unions cannot run the schools. High school graduation is the single most important act in a student's life in terms of adding economic value and net worth. We now rank 11th among all nations in high school graduation rates (South Korea is first). Competition and choice are two powerful antidotes to flab and irrelevance. The students need excellent teachers, and competition and choice improve their chances. Just that simple. I will change the Federal Department of Education to a data collector of what works: why and where. The schools will be run locally (best practices) with a steady, accurate flow of accurate information on SUCCESS. I will make a strong case for parents to support competition and choice.